Spacing strip for bottle-shipping crates



June 3, 1930.

F. H. YEOMANS SPACING STRIP FOR BOTTLE SHIPPING CRATES Filed Nov 15,1928 INVENTOR ATTORNEYJ Patented June '3, 1930 v UNITED STA FRED H.YEOMANS, OF DETROI T, MICHIGAN SPACING STRIP FOR BOTTLE-SHIPPING CRATESApplication filed November 15', 1928. Serial in). 319,494.

This invention relates to an improved form of metallic sapcing orseparating strip used particularly in the shipping and handling of milkbottles and similar articles in quantity, and has for its object animproved contouring of such a part which not only tends to greaterrigidity of the individual strips, but as Well makes for greatercleanliness and impossibility of concealment of masses of milk or otherfluid which have accidentally been spilled upon these parts and whichconditions of cleanliness forbid leaving unwashed.

In the drawings: v

Figure 1 is a perspective of an intersecting pair of my improved spacingstrips showing the separation and resultant aeration of the parts. 7 I

Figure 2' is a plan view of a corner of a shipping box equipped with myimproved form of spacing, and with an indication of the bottles inposition thereto.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevational view of a pair of intersectingstrips.

A indicates a shipping box or crate with a pair of strips as B and Cextending across the top thereof and intersected by a strip '1) runningat right angles thereto, the ends of each strip being secured to the topedge of the box in any manner desired. Each strip is central- .lygrooved or ribbed, as at E, throughout its length, and in addition thereare provided at intervals lateral inbendings or pressed-in portions F,the effect of which is to finally position those portions'of thebordering webs L of the metal strip which lie on either side of thecentral rib in planes almost perpendicular to that of the strip as awhole, the now lower edges of these inbent portions, which constitutethe lateral edges of the strip, extendingappreciably beneath the planeof the strip a whole. The provision of these alternated inbent portionsF coincides in position and in distance from one another with theintended positions of the milk bottles G as arranged within the shippingbox, and between each of these doubly inbent portions just described theplain though centrally ribbed portions of the metal strip remainunchanged. These inbent portions, such as J and K in Figure l, whichform the alternated integral parts of the lengthwise and crosswisestripsof a box," intersect one another, thus forming ing squaredsections with intermediate slightly inbent sides fcrmedby the pressed-inportions F, for the reception of the individual milk bottles. a p

' Of course, if it were desirable, these intersecting portions, as J andK, could be riveted or otherwise secured together, forming a'sort oflattice work, but just the opposite of this has been found to be themost desirable con struct-ion, namely a permanent definite spacing ofthe two metal strips, except for the contact between them along the verynarrow lines formed by the ribs E, so that if milk or other fluid isspilled thereover itvcannot work its way into the very thin spacebetween the intersecting strips and there gradually dr and-become sour.'It is my belief that these parts should be thus definitely andappreciably spaced from one another, so that except for the quite narrowlines of contact where the underface ofthe unbent portionof one of themetal strips, as J, engages the top edge of the rib E which traversesthe section K, there will be no actual contact between them. Theprovision and maintained permanence of the space thus provided make iteasy for the access of a cleansing stream of steam or similar cleansingmedium between the adjacent but spaced surfaces of the strips J and K,for the removal of any fluid remaining thereon whose continued presencethere would be objectionable; at the same time the reinforcing effectupon the relatively thin metal strip as such, due to the presence notonly of the lengthwise rib E, but as well the alternated inbent portionsF, produces a surprisingly rigid spacing member which is both adequateas regards its strength to keep the bottles apart, and as well is solight as to add i very little weight to the completed shipping crate orbox.

What I claim is:

1. As a new articleof manufacture, a sheet metal strip provided with acontinuous longitudinal rib midwaybetweenitslateraledges and having itsplane edge portions inbent at spaced intervals to form bottle-engagingsurfaces, the rib on each strip being adapted to engage the planeportions of a similar strip arranged at right angles thereto to theexclusion of the contact therewith of the flanking plane portions of itsown strip.

Means for spacing and holding against undesired lateral displacement aplurality of articles positioned within a shipping box, comprising aplurality of coordinated strips arranger'l intersectingly of one anotheradjacent the top of the box, each strip being ribbed throughout itslengthwise extent and having spaced portions of its plain lateral websdownwardly inbent, each intermediate portion of each strip being pairedwith a corresponding portion of a strip extending transversely of thefirst mentioned strip and having its lateral webs held in spacedrelation therefrom by the engagen'rent of the lengthwise rib on one orthe other of the strips against the plain web portions of the otherstrip.

3. \s a new article of manufacture, a sheetmetal strip adapted forcooperative intersecting association with similar strips, each striphaving a continuous longitudinal rib and being provided as well withspaced additionally inbent portions adapted for holding engagement aboutthe sides of bottles positioned in the rectangular spaces bounded by theseveral intersecting strips, the rib in those portions of each stripwhich intersect or overlap corresponding portions of the other stripsaffording a space for the access of a cleansing medium to all parts ofthe surfaces this over-engaging one another.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification.

FRED H. YEOMANS.

